Door bolt



Jan. 7, 1958 D. c. Mul-:ssEL

DOOR BOLT Filed Sept. 28, 1954 United States Patent DOOR BOLT Dan C. Muessel, Niles, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Kawneer Company, Niles, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 28, 1954, Serial No. 458,753 8 Claims. (Cl. 292-143) The present invention relates to an improvement in a door bolt and has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved door bolt of the type commonly called a ush bolt.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved flush bolt assembly which can be constructed in a simple and easy manner, can be readily installed on a door and operated with ease and certainty.

`A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved ush bolt assembly characterized by a manually movable operating lever mounted in a recessed and slotted supporting plate which is so constructed and arranged that it closes the slot in the supporting plate in its operative positions, these positions being one in which the bolt is projected and an alternate one in which it is retracted.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved door bolt assembly including an improved means for determining the limits ot movement or the operative positions of the manually movable operating lever.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved door bolt assembly characterized by a novel and improved simplified spring biasing means for holding the bolt and operating mechanism in its operative positions and characterized furthermore by a construction in which a slidable bolt is mounted for reciprocating movement through a recess or opening in a supporting bracket, the opening and bolt being constructed and arranged to provide a rattle-proof construction.

In brief, the door bolt assembly of the present invention comprises a supporting plate adapted readily to be mounted in a recess in a door frame. The supporting plate includes a pair of vertically spaced apart finger openings or recesses connected by a slot. The assembly includes also an operating lever pivotally mounted for movement on the support and adapted to close the slot in the frame in its operative positions. The operating lever is pivotally mounted upon the plate in simple manner and the lever is in turn pivotally connected to one end of a reciprocable bolt movable between projected and retracted positions by the operating lever. The bolt is biased toward the frame by a spring bearing frictionally against a side of the bolt. An end of the bolt is projectable through an opening in a supporting bracket mounted at the top of the door and the bolt has two point contact Vwith the bracket where it passes through the opening. The bolt is biased by the aforementioned spring to engage the bracket at the two points. The two point contact may be readily provided as by a sort of a V-shaped part in `the aperture, thereby to provide a rattle-proof assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

`Fig. l is `afragmentary elevational and partly cross ICC sectional view on a reduced scale of the Hush bolt assembly of the present invention assembled on a door and showing the relation thereof to the door frame;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the bolt in projected position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the view being taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

The door bolt of the present invention is of the type commonly called a flush bolt and the present invention has for its object the provision of an assembly of this character which can be readily and simply .installed upon a door. Referring now to the drawing, the door, which is only fragmentarily illustrated, is indicated by the reference character 10, and is shown having a vertical outer frame rail or style 12 which is of generally tubular construction such as a tubular extrusion of aluminum. The door may be mounted in conventional manner, not shown, in a door frame or casing, only a part of which is shown as indicated by the reference character 14, and which has a recess 16 for the reception of a metal keeper or latch plate 18, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The flush bolt assembly of the present invention is illustrated as a Whole by the reference character 2d. It includes, in the main, a supporting plate 22, a manually movable operating lever 24 and a bolt 26 movable between the retracted and projected positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

The supporting plate 22 includes a central elongated portion 30 of generally eliptical shape. It is mounted in a recess 32 in the outer edge of the door style 12 as by screws 34 passing through the style and into threaded engagement with the narrow extensions 36 at opposite ends of the major portion 30. The supporting plate 22 is provided with a pair of generally centrally located rearwardly extending generally triangular ears 3S between which the operating lever 24 is pivotally mounted upon a shaft or pin 40 extending through openings in the ears 33. The supporting plate is also provided with a narrow elongated slot 42, the opposite ends of which terminate substantially centrally of the semi-spherical recesses 44 and 46 provided for the reception of a manually graspable widened end 50 of the operating lever and for facilitating access to the end of the lever.

The operating lever 24 is, as already indicated, pivotally movable about the axis defined by the pin 4t), lts widened outer end 50 is of generally semi-circular coniguration, see particularly Figs. 1 and 4, received in one or the other of the recesses 44 or 46 in the operative positions of the lever. The lever is shown in one of its operative positions in Fig. 2 and in the other position in Fig. 3. In the position of Fig. 2, the bolt 26 is retracted and in the position of Fig. 3, the bolt 26 is projected whereby the door is locked.

in accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the operating lever 24 is so constructed and arranged that it substantially closes the slot 42 in both operative positions. To do this, the operating lever is provided with a rst edge 52 closing the slot in the position of Fig. 2 and a second edge 54 closing the slot in the position of Fig. 3. The lever is also provided with pairs of curved portions 56A and 56B at one end and with curved portions 58A and 58B for closing the arcuate end portions of the slot 24 formed by the extension of the slot 42 into the recesses 44 and 46. Accordingly, the slot 42 is fully closed by the operating lever in its two operative positions.

ln accordance with a further object of the present invenu'on, the positions of the operating lever and bolt are determined by positive positioning means including the spaced apart stop defining shoulders 60A and dtlB at the inner end of the lever which. are engageable with the undersides of the recess dening portions of `the supporting plate Sil. The construction is such as to position the ringer piece somewhat away from the bottom of the recesses whereby it ycan be more readily grasped.

When the operating lever 24 is moved between .its positions, the bolt 26 is reciprocated. The bolt is pivotally connected to the lever by a transverse pm o2 spaced from shaft 4t) and passing through the plate and the bifurcated end portions 64 of the bolt. The bifurcations are spaced apart a distance sutlicient to receive the operating lever Z4 whereby the lever and bolt are mountable substantially inline thereby to prcvidea com` pact and simple construction.

ln accordance with another feature oi the present invention, the operating lever and bolt are maintained in their two operative positions and the bolt is prevented from rattling by the spring 23. The spring is of generally tJ-shape and has a bight Aportion d6 forcing the bolt towards the outer edge or the door or toward the lett as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. ln lorder to reduce the friction between the spring and bolt a nylon bearing 68 is interposed between the spring and back of the bolt. 'the leg portions of the spring are provided with portions "itl encircling the proiecting ends of the pin du, which thus supports the spring, and with end portions "72 bearing against the back oi the supporting plate.

T he upper end of the bolt 26 is supported and guided by a generally right angular bracket 7d suitably secured as by the screws 76 Within the tubular style ld. The

horizontal portion of the bracket '74 is provided with an aperture 73 through which the bolt is movable between its projected and retracted positions.

ln accordance with still another feature of the present invention, rattling of the bolt is prevented in simple manner by the spring 2S. In order additionally to prevent rattling a two point contact between the bolt and bracket is provided. The bolt is cylindrical and the two points, indicated by the reference character d@ in Fig. 5 are provided by constructing the aperture 78 with a generally V-shaped portion 82 located near the edge of the door and against whichthe bolt is held by the spring 2t@ in both of its operative positions.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention, it may be noted that the door bolt of the present invention constitutes an assembly which may be constructed and assembled in very simple manner. It incndes but a few readily made and assemblable com- ;'zonent parts. These parts include only the supporting plate, the operating lever, the bolt, and the biasing spring Once installed, the bolt may be operated between its retracted and projected positions simply by moving the operating lever between the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The operating lever can be grasped very easily by reason of the location of the linger piece 5() in one or the other of the recesses. At the same time, the operating lever completely closes the slot 42 through which the operating lever projects during movement from one position to another. The construction is also such that the assembly can be mounted in a relatively narrow tubular door style.

While the present invention has been described in conrie-.tion with details of a particular embodiment thereof, it should be understood that these details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A ilush bolt assembly for attachment to a door, including in combination, a supporting plate having ,means deiining apair of recesses interconnected by a slot, said tit) Slet extending Parcells/.into each of .said recessesand a bolt operating lever pivotally mounted on said plate for movement between two operative positions and having a portion extending through said slot, said portion being configured substantially to close said slot in said supporting plate, whereby said operating lever is in flush relationship with said supporting plate including the means dening each of said recesses.

2. A flush bolt assembly for attachment to a door, inclndng` in combination, a supporting plate havingmeans ing a slot comprising a body and end portions, and having means dening spaced apart recessed portions into which the end portions of the `slot extend, vand a bolt operating lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the back side of said plate for movement been two operative positions and having a portion ex tending through said slot to the front of said plate, said portion having spaced longitudinally extending edge surfaces congured substantially to close .said body and end portions of said slot and to conform with the shape of the supporting plate including said means vdefining `said recesses in both positions vofvsaid lever.

A ilush bolt assembly for attachment to a door, including in combination, a supporting plate vhaving ya slot therein, and spaced apart recesses into which the ends of the slot extend, and a bolt yoperating lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the back side of said plate for movement between 4two operative .positions and having a portion extending through said slot to the front of said plate, said portion having spaced longitudinally extending edge surfaces configured substantially to close said slot in both positions of said lever, and said lever having an inner end with spaced apart stop defining shoulder portions `engaging the `inner surface of said plate at the region of said recesses for determining `the positions of said lever.

4. A door bolt assembly for a door including a supporting plate having a slot, an operating lever having -a portion extending through the slot, means including a pivot pin mounted on said supporting plate lfor supporting the lever for movement between two operative positions, a door bolt movably connected to the operating lever, and spring means mounted on said pivot pin having a first part supported by said Vsupporting plate and a second part applying a force directly against the door bolt for biasing the bolt toward an edge of the door.

5. A door bolt structure, including in combination, la slotted supporting element, a door 'bolt operating 1ever, and means pivotally `mounting lsaid lever on said element for movement between two positions and so that o ne end is at the outer side and the other at the inner side of said element, the end of said lever atthe inner side having spaced apart stop defining shoulders selectively engageable with the inner side `of said element in said two positions for determining said positions.

6. A door bolt structure, including in combination, a supporting plate having a pair of spaced recesses and a slot extending between and linto said recesses, a pin supported from said plate, a door bolt operating lever pivotally movable about said pin, said lever having shoulders defined in the edges thereof for engaging said plate and positioning said lever in either of two operative positions in which said slot is substantially closed by edges of the lever, a reciprocable door bolt pivotally secured to said lever, and spring means supported by said pin for biasing said bolt toward an edge of the door.

7. ln a door bolt structure of the type including a supporting plate, a pin supported from said plate, a door bolt operating lever pivotally carried by said pin, said lever including positioning means for positioning said lever in either of two operating positions in flush relanonship with said plate, a reciprocable door `bolt pivotally carried by `said lever, and single spring means supported by said pin for biasing said bolt toward an edge of the door and for positively biasing and retaining said positioning means in engagement with said supporting References Cited in the tile of this patent Piate UNITED STATES PATENTS 8. The combination of a door having a hollow stile and a iush bolt assembly comprising a supporting plate llfgn Page NOV' 10 1914 having extensions defining recesses for receiving the outer 5 1162f45 Ohnstrand Dec' 7 1915 edge of the stile, said extensions being secured to the 1903284 Burton Apr' 4f 1933 inner surface of the outer edge of said stile such that FOREGN PATENTS said supporting plate is in i'lush relationship with said 23 688 Great Britain Apr. 18 1910 stile said supporting plate further having means deining 28356 Great Britain Dec- 19, 1911 a pair of spaced recesses and ineans defining a slot interi 10 460,468 Great Britain Jau 28! 1937 Connecting and extending partially into said recesses, and W9/ 231 Gat Britain Feb 2 1938 a bolt operating lever pivotally mounted on said plate 640,872 France Apr. 7) 1928 for movement between two operative positions and hav- 669,537 France Aug 5, 1929 ing a portion extending through said slot, said portion being configured substantially to close said slot in both 15 positions of said lever. 

